49th SFS armory

Senior Airman Alexandra Haytasingh, 49th Security Forces Squadron assistant non-commissioned officer in charge of the armory, returns an M-4 Carbine to the rack at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. Security Forces personnel working in the armory are responsible for taking care of and housing weapon systems for on and off duty SF personnel, Civil Engineer personnel, Office of Special Investigation agents and German Air Force members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

Senior Airman Alexandra Haytasingh, 49th Security Forces Squadron assistant non-commissioned officer in charge of the armory, returns an M-4 Carbine to the rack at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. Armory personnel maintain and house weapon systems for both on and off-duty SF personnel, as well as store personally owned weapons and ammunition for residents living on base who have registered their weapon through SF. Currently the armory houses more than 90 personally owned weapons and their accompanying ammunition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

Airman 1st Class Joshua Wilson, 49th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, returns his daily issued M-9 Beretta at the end of his shift at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. The SF armory is responsible for issuing and receiving weapon systems for SF posts and patrolmen. The weapons are cleared of ammunition and inspected for any flaws or discrepancies. If repairs are needed, they are channeled to the combat arms range for repairs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

Senior Airman Tyrus Wilcox, 49th Security Forces Squadron daytime armorer, receives two M-9 Beretta magazines from a SF patrolman after returning from their shift at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. The armory houses more than 900 weapon systems for on and off-duty SF members, Civil Engineer personnel, Office of Special Investigation agents and German Air Force members. They also hold the personally owned weapons of individuals that live on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

Senior Airman Ginger Lewis, 49th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, returns her M-4 Carbine to Senior Airman Tyrus Wilcox, 49th SFS daytime armorer, after completing her shift at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. The armory issues weapon systems to the individual SF members that are coming to and from work, their equipment and anything else they need for the day. The weapons are also inspected to ensure they are in proper working order for the next recipient. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

M-9 Beretta magazines are organized and stored upon receipt from an off duty patrolman at the 49th Security Forces Squadron armory at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 2, 2015. SF armory personnel are responsible for arming SF members for their shift, ensuring their weapon systems are in proper working order and free of any defects or malfunctioning parts. The armory houses more than 900 weapon systems for on and off-duty SF members, Civil Engineer personnel, Office of Special Investigation agents and German Air Force members, they also hold the personally owned weapons of individuals that live on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

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49th SFS armory

Published April 3, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya
49th Wing Public Affairs

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Every day the 49th Security Forces Squadron Airmen work hard to ensure that Holloman stays a safe and secure location for all personnel and families living on base. Being properly equipped with an effective weapon system is not as simple as just grabbing them off the shelf.

The members of the SF armory are there to ensure our patrolmen are properly equipped to carry out their daily duties with safe and reliable weaponry. However their responsibilities stretch far beyond just maintaining SF weapon systems.

"We house over 900 weapon systems for on and off-duty SF members, Civil Engineer personnel, Office of Special Investigation agents and German Air Force individuals," said Staff Sgt. Brandin Weber, 49th SFS combat arms instructor. "We also hold the personally owned weapons and ammunition of individuals that live in the unaccompanied airman dormitories."

Ensuring the weapons are properly maintained is another key part of their position. If a weapon is not in proper working order, the armorers take measures to ensure the weapon is properly repaired before its next use.

"If we have a weapons turn-in and there is something broken on the weapon system, it will get tagged with the nature of the issue, letting them know it should not go out to post before it's repaired," said Weber. "It will be taken to the combat arms individuals, they will fix it if possible, then it will return here for issue out."

The armory houses personally owned weapons for Airmen on base as well. Holloman Airmen can purchase weapons from the Base Exchange, and the armory helps them store and register the weapon.

"If you purchase a firearm and you live on base, you need to bring it to the armory and fill out an Air Force Form 1314 and let them know so it gets registered on base," said Weber. "Individuals that live in the dorms cannot have the weapon systems in their dorms, so they need to be housed here."

The members of the SF armory work hard to ensure our defenders are properly equipped to keep Holloman safe, and ensure our residents are practicing safe storage of their personal weapon systems.